He said: "I'd have to win pretty much every match between now and the end of the year and Novak would have to win hardly any.

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Andy Murray has enjoyed a trophy-laden 2016, including Wimbledon

"I want to try and get there, but I don't think doing that by the end of this year is that realistic."

It would require a particularly monumental effort given Djokovic's history at this stage in the season.

After all, the Serb star has won the Paris Masters three times in a row between 2013 and 2015 as well as the World Tour Finals all four of the past four years, 2012-2015.

However, Murray knows the world No1 spot is his to take - claiming April 2017 is his target, with Djokovic having plenty of points to lose.

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Novak Djokovic has been left frustrated in 2016, hemorrhaging ranking points

Having won the Masters events at Indian Wells and Miami in 2015, any slip-ups there would leave the door wide open for Muzza, particularly as the Brit ace himself only reached the third round in both tournaments.